PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA)

Price: Rs. 249.00 Rs. 600.00

Sample Type: Blood

Fasting Not Required

Booking Procedure:

1. Technician from Thyrocare will be assigned for a free home sample collection after booking confirmation.
2. Sample will be collected by our technician at your address at given slot.
3. You will get a payment link in 2 hours. You can make the payment online or pay cash to the technician.
4. Soft copy reports will be sent to your email address within 24 to 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's):

1. What is the Thyrocare PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test? The PSA test is a simple blood test that measures the level of Prostate Specific Antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland in men. It is the most widely used screening test for prostate health in India, helping detect prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis at an early stage. The test requires only a small blood sample and is increasingly part of annual preventive checkups for Indian men over 45. The PSA test is processed at NABL-accredited Thyrocare laboratory and bookable with free home collection through bookmytest.co.in.

2. Why is the Thyrocare PSA test important for mens health screening? Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in Indian men over 50, and it typically develops silently — without producing symptoms — until it reaches an advanced stage. The PSA test is one of the few reliable early-detection tools available, allowing diagnosis before symptoms appear, which dramatically improves treatment success and survival rates. Beyond cancer screening, PSA testing also helps detect non-cancerous prostate conditions like BPH (enlarged prostate) and prostatitis (inflammation), both of which become increasingly common with age.

3. At what age should Indian men start taking the PSA test? Most clinical guidelines recommend that Indian men begin PSA testing at age 50 for routine screening, and at age 40 to 45 for men with elevated risk — those with a family history of prostate cancer (especially in a father or brother), African ancestry, or persistent urinary symptoms. Once started, the test is typically repeated annually or biennially based on the baseline result and the doctors recommendation. Men with previous abnormal PSA values or known prostate conditions may need more frequent testing.

4. What is the normal range for PSA in adult men? The general normal range for total PSA is below 4 ng/mL, but the cut-off varies with age. A more accurate age-adjusted reference is: under 2.5 ng/mL for men aged 40–49, under 3.5 ng/mL for ages 50–59, under 4.5 ng/mL for ages 60–69, and under 6.5 ng/mL for men aged 70 and above. PSA above the age-adjusted threshold does not automatically mean cancer — but it warrants further evaluation through a digital rectal exam, repeat PSA, free-to-total PSA ratio, or imaging like MRI as guided by a urologist.

5. What does an elevated PSA level indicate? Elevated PSA can indicate several conditions, not just cancer. The three most common causes are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is age-related prostate enlargement; prostatitis, which is inflammation or infection of the prostate; and prostate cancer. Less common causes include recent ejaculation, urinary tract infection, recent prostate examination, cycling, or certain medications. This is why a single elevated PSA reading is rarely diagnostic on its own — a urologist will typically order a repeat test, free PSA ratio, and clinical evaluation before deciding on next steps.

6. Is fasting or special preparation required for the Thyrocare PSA test? Fasting is generally not required for the PSA test, but a few simple precautions improve accuracy. Avoid ejaculation for 48 hours before the test, avoid vigorous cycling or horse-riding for 48 hours (these can transiently raise PSA), and inform the phlebotomist if you have had any recent urinary catheter insertion, prostate biopsy or urological procedure — PSA can be artificially elevated for up to 6 weeks after these. If your PSA test is part of a larger health package that includes fasting tests like lipid profile or glucose, follow the 10–12 hour fasting requirement of that broader panel.

7. Can PSA be elevated without indicating prostate cancer? Yes, and this is actually the most common scenario — the majority of men with mildly elevated PSA do not have prostate cancer. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urinary tract infections, prostatitis, recent ejaculation or even strenuous bike riding can all temporarily elevate PSA. This is why urologists rarely make any decision based on a single PSA value alone. The free-to-total PSA ratio, PSA velocity (rate of change over time), digital rectal examination and imaging studies are combined to differentiate cancer from benign causes before any invasive procedure like a biopsy is considered.

8. What is the difference between Thyrocare Total PSA and Thyrocare Free PSA tests? Total PSA measures all forms of Prostate Specific Antigen in the blood — both bound to proteins and unbound (free). Free PSA measures only the unbound fraction. The ratio of free PSA to total PSA helps differentiate prostate cancer from benign conditions when total PSA is in the borderline range of 4 to 10 ng/mL. A free-to-total PSA ratio below 25% raises suspicion of cancer, while a ratio above 25% more often indicates BPH. The PSA test on bookmytest.co.in primarily measures total PSA; free PSA can be added as a follow-up if total PSA is borderline.

9. How often should the PSA test be repeated? For men aged 50 and above with a baseline PSA below 1 ng/mL, biennial testing (every two years) is often sufficient. For men with PSA between 1 and 2.5 ng/mL, annual testing is recommended. For men with a baseline above 2.5 ng/mL, more frequent testing under urologist supervision is appropriate. Men with a strong family history of prostate cancer should follow annual testing from age 40 to 45 onwards. Most importantly, tracking PSA changes over years (PSA velocity) is more informative than any single reading — making consistent annual testing valuable.

 10. Can the Thyrocare PSA test be done at home anywhere in India? Yes, the PSA test is available with free home sample collection across 4,000+ pincodes in India, covering all major metro cities, tier-2 cities and most tier-3 towns. After booking on bookmytest.co.in, a trained phlebotomist of thyrocare arrives at your home for a simple blood collection— the entire visit takes around 10 minutes. There is no fasting requirement, so the test can be scheduled at any convenient time of day. Digital reports are delivered to email and WhatsApp within 24 hours.